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Just another "bright" modding idea...

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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:13 PM
  #21  
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gmosley
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Default unsafe

high wattage 05 and 06s are unsafe because the high wattage produces more heat in the plastic housing as well as the small factory wiring cant support the extra load on it and will likely melt and possibly catch fire
hids are illegal if you replace the factory light with a rebased kit due to the fact that it was not designed to go in a plastic housing
hid kits are still sold but they are illegal
i had aftermarket hids on my altima but my altima had the hid optional so i had no problems with mine
however a vette doesnt and hids would stick out like a sore thumb on them so you may have a problem with your local police force if you installed them plus an hid kit is at the minimum 300 bucks where you can replace all four bulbs for 75% of the hid output (minus the blue or purple color) for about 140 bucks
i have some coming and ill put them in my vette before i install the t84 euros and let everyone know how they do but the headlight housings design is the main issue with our lights poor performance but every little bit helps
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:22 PM
  #22  
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Default ????

125% more light in the OEM housings in not good IMHO.. The optics for HIDs needs to be first rate, especially at those light levels. You can the brightst bulbs(highest wattage) and only manage to blind oncomming drivers. The key is the optics first then the bulbs. Do a search, there are a couple of guys looking at developing DOT approved kits that will utilize HID spec optics with HID projectors.

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im unsure if you understand what im saying the 9011 and 9012 deliver 125% more light than the factory halogen bulbs at the same wattage of the factory 9005 9006 bulbs
they are not brighter than hids
if your lights are adjusted properly they will not blind oncoming traffic
i agree the optics on c5s are poor im merely suggesting trying these bulbs as they are cheaper than both the hid kits and the euro t84 lights
as i said im already doing the t84s but ill have the 9012 and 9011 bulbs before i install the t84s so ill try them and let evryone know if its a worthwhile upgrade compared to the money as well as the silverstars
(which are what installed now)
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:31 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by gmosley
125% more light in the OEM housings in not good IMHO.. The optics for HIDs needs to be first rate, especially at those light levels. You can the brightst bulbs(highest wattage) and only manage to blind oncomming drivers. The key is the optics first then the bulbs. Do a search, there are a couple of guys looking at developing DOT approved kits that will utilize HID spec optics with HID projectors.

$0.02 Deposited

im unsure if you understand what im saying the 9011 and 9012 deliver 125% more light than the factory halogen bulbs at the same wattage of the factory 9005 9006 bulbs
they are not brighter than hids
if your lights are adjusted properly they will not blind oncoming traffic
i agree the optics on c5s are poor im merely suggesting trying these bulbs as they are cheaper than both the hid kits and the euro t84 lights
as i said im already doing the t84s but ill have the 9012 and 9011 bulbs before i install the t84s so ill try them and let evryone know if its a worthwhile upgrade compared to the money as well as the silverstars
(which are what installed now)
Just double check the packaging. The increased light has to come from somewhere, for those kind of gains, but this can be as simple as the filiment types as in the SilverStars.

The T84 Euro lamps are really just glass versions of the units in your car. The optics are only marginally better, if any at all. Europe requires all lamps to be glass, not good.

I have read a ton of threads and info on the lighting question, since the OEM lights are so poor in such a great automobile. IMHO wait for one of the members who is working on this (True HID lenses & Projectors) to get a DOT kit out. It should be worth the wait, and you will have additional money to spend on other mods. I am now up to $0.06

Damn.....I love this place!!!

.
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:32 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by gmosley
125% more light in the OEM housings in not good IMHO.. The optics for HIDs needs to be first rate, especially at those light levels. You can the brightst bulbs(highest wattage) and only manage to blind oncomming drivers. The key is the optics first then the bulbs. Do a search, there are a couple of guys looking at developing DOT approved kits that will utilize HID spec optics with HID projectors.

$0.02 Deposited

im unsure if you understand what im saying the 9011 and 9012 deliver 125% more light than the factory halogen bulbs at the same wattage of the factory 9005 9006 bulbs
they are not brighter than hids
if your lights are adjusted properly they will not blind oncoming traffic
i agree the optics on c5s are poor im merely suggesting trying these bulbs as they are cheaper than both the hid kits and the euro t84 lights
as i said im already doing the t84s but ill have the 9012 and 9011 bulbs before i install the t84s so ill try them and let evryone know if its a worthwhile upgrade compared to the money as well as the silverstars
(which are what installed now)
Looking forward to the results.
Ed
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:44 PM
  #25  
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I'm ready for some more light
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 05:59 PM
  #26  
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Poor ole GM, the C5 headlights don't give enough light and look like $hit when they're up, if they'll come up. Then they do the C6 and the lights work OK, but look like $hit all the time.
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 06:51 PM
  #27  
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Check out mray's thread on legal HIDs for the C5 coming very soon...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=971666

EG
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 09:00 PM
  #28  
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Yea, get some Sylvania SilverStars. They are brighter than the stock bulbs.
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Old Feb 3, 2005 | 09:12 PM
  #29  
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Really interesting thread. I will be looking forward to the 9011 and 9012 report. Now that I know they exist I'll do some investigating of my own.

And Damn I love this place too. Greatest place on the net.
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Old Feb 6, 2005 | 06:12 PM
  #30  
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Default hir bulb

heres some info on it
http://hirheadlights.com/special.htm
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Old Feb 6, 2005 | 06:13 PM
  #31  
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Default hir bulb

heres some info on it the second link is the most info on the technology it uses
http://hirheadlights.com/special.htm
http://hirheadlights.com/
a pic of the bulbs


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Old Feb 6, 2005 | 11:06 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by 2k1 Vette
If you want whiter light just go to your local auto parts store and pick up some Sylvania Silverstars. I think they are around $35/pair.

I've tried them and they are definitely whiter, but I didnt think they were any brighter.

This debate on whiter/brighter always opens a huge can-of-worms so let the debates begin.
Pep Boy's have them in there newspaper flyer this Sunday for $29.95 afer rebate and coupon from paper.
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Old Feb 7, 2005 | 12:15 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by gmosley
heres some info on it the second link is the most info on the technology it uses
http://hirheadlights.com/special.htm
http://hirheadlights.com/
a pic of the bulbs


Veeeeery interesting! Thanks. I'll do some checking into these.
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Old Feb 7, 2005 | 07:38 AM
  #34  
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I think I am going to give the Sylvania's a shot- but I am interested in the results of the HIR's...
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Old Feb 7, 2005 | 08:01 AM
  #35  
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I just changed to the Silverstars a couple weeks ago and like them.

The whiter light seems to make things more visible without blasting on-coming cars, and the "ease" of simply changing bulbs (if you have small hands) make it a simple mod with no wiring.

Although the HIDs I've seen on Vettes weren't blinding either behind or coming at me, given the cost and wiring needed - the Silverstars work just fine for me.
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